I thought it would be useful to pull together some of the recurring issues that I’m seeing in books written by Christians. These are the things that annoy, the things that damage, and the things that usually result in the book being thrown away prior to its conclusion.
For those that wonder whether this is legalism, wherever we draw the line, Christians’ standards should surely be different to the standards of those who haven’t been bought for a price. How will the power of God be proved, if there is no visible difference between us and those still living in darkness?
I’ve included examples of books with these issues and linked to my reviews. Where relevant, I’ve also linked to my other posts that deal with the topics in more detail:
1. Use of swearing and blasphemy. I’m constantly finding profanity in Christian books. My post on this subject is the most popular to date. Yet, even here, Christians aren’t all in agreement and several have (poorly) attempted to defend the use of swearing in books. In my opinion, using a quotation containing a swear word, or just using the first letter and blanking the rest out, is just as bad. Examples include: No Graven Image, Run Baby Run, Mission Under Fire, Dan Walker's Football Thronkersaurus
2. Irreverent titles. Choosing a title is so important as it will be the main thing that stays in people’s minds. It will appear on any promotional and advertising material and will be used in conversation about the book. It’s no good coming up with a dodgy title and then justifying it with a long winded explanation, because readers don’t have the explanation when they initially consider the book. Examples include: The Prodigal God, The Heavenly Man, The Insanity of God, The Devil in Pew Number Seven
3. Glorifying sin. This often occurs in auto-biographies. Sometimes, authors are keen to demonstrate the dramatic changes in their lives when they become Christians. This is a worthy goal, but do we really need to know all the ins and outs of the drug taking, sexual conquests, and criminal activity. There needs to be a sense of shame and regret that accompanies these type of confessions, not a nostalgia or pride. I used to relay an amusing tale of drunken exploits from before I was converted until I realised that it was hardly honouring to God. It was almost coming across as if I was looking back with regret that I no longer had these experiences, rather than that I was relieved to be free from my lifestyle of sin which was ultimately meaningless and empty. Examples include: Street God, Junkie Meets Jesus
4. Poor conversion testimony and/or Gospel presentation is missing key elements. I’ve seen this in fiction and non-fiction. I’m not someone who thinks that every Christian book should contain the Gospel message explicitly. However, if people in Christian books become Christians, it needs to be clear what it is they are subscribing to; what do they now believe? I’ve read books where the character has some kind of overwhelming sensory experience that they attribute to God. They then decide this means they are a Christian, and everyone else in the book accepts this as if this is what makes a Christian. Surely, anyone can see the issue for any non-believers who happen to be reading the book. I’ve read of conversions with no mention of conviction of sin, focusing instead on the love of God exclusively. Likewise, those who seem to fall in love with Jesus which meets a need in their life at a particular time. This isn’t saving faith. Examples include: Journey to Riverbend, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Negotiator, Once an Arafat Man
5. Dogmatic on secondary issues. This is an obscure one and, again, tends to appear in autobiographies. Some authors use their personal stories as a platform for espousing strong views on a particular doctrinal, or church based, issue. The last thing a reader wants, when reading a biography, is suddenly to be hit with a sermon on charismatic gifts, Calvinism, replacement theology, home-schooling, political dogma, or the perils of different Bible translations. Authors should realise that they are shooting themselves in the foot when they do this because they will alienate anyone who doesn’t share their view and also annoy anyone who does share their view but just wanted to read a biography. If people want to read about these other issues, they will buy books about them or listen to sermons about them in church! Examples include: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, God Less America, The Mind of Terror, Hillary's America
6. Too much personal detail. This is more about protecting the author than anything else especially if the book receives wide acclaim. What if our circumstances change and there are things in the book we wish we hadn’t included? What if we want to work as a a missionary in a closed country in the future; will our book put us in danger? I’ve seen books with details of sexual exploits, even some where names are mentioned. Also, books detailing criminal activity which appears never to have been dealt with by the criminal justice system. Additionally, books containing things that are just too personal for others to read. Our emotions are changeable; we can write and publish something but later feel exposed and vulnerable. It’s important to get feedback from friends and family prior to publication and especially to ask permission from those that will appear in a book. We must think about our purpose in writing and weigh up the pros and cons before publication. Examples include: A Heart for Freedom, Why I Stayed, Why Me?, Once an Addict, Unashamed
7. Failure to uphold biblical principles. This is one of my pet peeves. Is it really okay for a Christian character in a fictional tale to pursue a relationship with a non-believer despite the clear biblical instruction not to do this? What message is sent to the audience when the relationship works out despite the sinful behaviour? What if the Christian character appeared to know it was wrong but did it anyway and God appears to bless the decision? There are so many books out there like this but how damaging is this for a Christian trapped in an emotional entanglement with a non-believer and trying to make the right decision? What about Christian characters who swear, don’t go to church, dismiss parts of the Bible, commit crime, or appear to turn a blind eye to corruption, or bribery. We should not have Christian characters who behave exactly as their worldly counterparts behave. How about authors who promote evolution? Examples include: Why There Almost Certainly is a God, Wild At Heart, Things Forgotten, Nevertheless, Captivating, Bruchko, The Truth Seeker
8. Spiritual ramblings. Another pet peeve. I’ve been forced to skip whole chapters of books where the author rambles on and on about the goodness of God in a particular situation without actually saying anything. They use plenty of emotion and a range of flowery words to describe how they feel and basically seem like a record stuck on different versions of God is so good. The problem is, readers can’t usually relate to someone else’s emotional and spiritual experience of God because it’s personal. It either feels very cringe worthy or just pointless. A good writer will demonstrate the greatness of God through detailing the circumstances and His interventions without nonsensical ramblings about how they feel about it all. Examples include: Kisses from Katie (audio version is worse), God Knows My Name, Tables in the Wilderness
9. Failing to live up to their own standards (and God's). This has been an issue in the public eye recently because of the downfall of popular author, Joshua Harris. There have also been organisations that have written books and then later been exposed for corrupt practice. Authors with life-style issues and addictions have written books detailing the power of God helping them overcome these sins and then relapsed some years down the line. Essentially, if you’re going to write a book about it, make sure you’re truly converted. It does great damage to the church of God when these people with public profiles fall. Christians will fall into sin from time to time as we aren’t immune to temptation, but we are new creations in Christ, and shouldn’t then respond arrogantly, or wallow in lifestyle sins that we have been freed from in the past. We definitely shouldn’t try to justify ourselves in these circumstances. Examples include: Saving Levi, Anointed for Burial, Sinner's Creed
10. Focus on the subjective without checking Scripture. There is a danger when authors relate their subjective experiences, or their characters’ experiences, as if they are main-stream for Christians. This can apply to signs and wonders, appearances of Jesus, dreams, visions, healings, tongues speaking, casting out demons, prophecy, visits to Heaven, callings by God, talking to God, directions from God etc. The impression can be given that, unless a reader experiences these things, as the author or character has done, they are not a true believer. It could also make someone feel inadequate spiritually or, worst case scenario, it could result in someone waiting for these experiences to happen to them before they trust Jesus for themselves. If authors want to include these things in their books, they really must make it clear that it is their personal experience and not something that is likely to happen in the life of every Christian. The Bible is the only source of authority when things like this occur and we need to be referring back to it constantly. Examples include: I Dared to Call Him Father, Back to Jerusalem, Sadhu Sundar Singh, Heaven is for Real, I Told the Mountain to Move
11. Changing and misquoting the Bible. This should go without saying, but sadly I see too much of this either through ignorance or deliberate manipulate to fit a particular point the author wants to make. It the intention of the author is to make the Bible story or teaching more accessible to a particular group of people, then there is room for manoeuvre here. An example would be missionaries trying to deal with cultural issues e.g. Judas inadvertently becoming a hero because friendship betrayal is considered extremely clever in Peace Child! However, most authors are not dealing with situations like this and should not then be changing the Bible. This happens more often in films where dramatic licence is taken, but these films are often based on books. Authors’ that write about Bible themes should always remember that they are dealing with the perfect Word of God which is not something to be treated lightly, and that account will have to be given for every careless word. Examples include: The Shack, The Prayer of Jabez, The Purpose Driven Life
12. Too much graphic detail. Christians will argue about this until the cows come home. What is too graphic? The fact is, we all have different standards and different things effect each of us in different ways. Some may not be affected by violent scenes whilst others may have nightmares. Some may not be tempted when reading sexual scenes, others definitely will. Some may be able to tune out bad language, others won’t. We all need to remember that we have a fallen, sinful nature that will feed on graphic detail in a way that may not be helpful. We need to consider how much of this we are exposing ourselves to and how that affects our thinking and our behaviour. We need to ensure we are also focusing on good, pure things and know where to draw the line. To deny that what we read and fill our minds with has any effect on us spiritually is ignorant and foolish. There are plenty of Bible verses that prove that we are affected and that we are responsible for what we read, watch and listen to. Christian authors who put these things out there need to be aware that they could be causing a brother or sister to stumble, or putting temptation in their path or planting ideas that weren’t there before. It’s easy to place the responsibility on the reader, but Christian authors must surely consider how their words could affect others. Examples include: Bone Man's Daughters, Redeeming Love, Bridge to Haven
13. Excessive focus on dark themes. Should Christians read Ted Dekker or John Grisham? What about Frank Peretti? How about C.S. Lewis or Tolkien? Some of these books fall into the horror genre and I would question whether Christians can justify reading them. Some are fantasy but with a big focus on demonic activity. Some deal with the Occult in detail. Others involve magic and witchcraft. Again, Christians draw the lines in different places but authors really must consider the impact of their writings on their audience particularly as some of these authors are writing for children. Should a Christian author really write a book that makes a reader feel sick, or scared, or that gives them nightmares? I’ve heard authors argue that we need to be aware of the spiritual battle and learn the tactics of the enemy in order to defeat him. This is a weak argument, the Bible encourages us to study the Truth to determine error, it tells us to beware of the devil but never to investigate his schemes. Instead, we are told to put on the full armour of God and to resist the devil and he will flee from us. Examples include: The Screwtape Letters, By Reason of Insanity, Showdown, This Present Darkness
14. Misleading titles and summaries. How annoying is it when you’ve purchased a book on a subject that you were interested in reading about, but the book is about something else? What about when the book has large sections dealing with something not mentioned in the summary? How about if it extensively details the early life of the subject when the book is meant to be about something that happened to them later on? Christians need to be honest about their books and not try to sell them as something they aren’t. It’s not clever to deceive someone into buying a book with a Christian message when they aren’t interested In Christianity. The deception will just annoy them and they will have the perception that Christians aren’t truthful, or that Christianity is so desperate for converts that we are resorting to underhand tactics rather than relying on the power of God to open blind eyes. Likewise, dramatic claims to fame, or to some extraordinary experience, in a sub-title to grab attention, must be backed up by the content or readers will just be disappointed and irritated. Examples include: Taming the Tiger, False Witness, Shouting into the Silence, While the World Watched, Flash: The Homeless Donkey, They Say We Are Infidels, The Boy Born Dead
I’m sure there are more mistakes that Christian authors make, but these are some that I’ve come across. It’s worth highlighting that there are plenty of Christian authors out there who avoid all of these pitfalls and write excellent books. You can check out my 5 star reviews on Goodreads for some of these.
Let's stop and think about our purpose in writing, and whether the content is acceptable to God, before we put our names to something that may be in the public domain for generations to come!
